Thank you for being a friend: Social integration and psychological well-being in lesbian older adults

ABSTRACT

A growing body of research has identified the relationship between loneliness and numerous adverse health outcomes in adults over the age of 55. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults have been flagged as an especially high-risk group, and while social networks have been shown to protect against loneliness in LGBT youth, this has yet to be investigated in older adults. A growing arena for social connection in older adults is the Internet, with over 45% of seniors reporting regular use of social media sites;however, disagreement persists regarding the influence of these sites on mental health, particularly in LGB older adults. This study examined associations between social integration and psychological well-being among lesbian older adults and a demographically similar sample of heterosexual women. Additionally, the study explored the mediating roles of mental health status (loneliness, depression, anxiety) and social media (use and attitudes) on this relationship, as well as the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on social communication. Lesbian (n = 201) and heterosexual women (n = 245) between the ages of 55 and 85 completed online questionnaires assessing social integration, psychological well-being, mental health status, social media, and changes in communication patterns during COVID-19. In each sample, social integration was significantly correlated with psychological well-being;however, lesbian and heterosexual older women did not significantly differ in levels of social integration or well-being, and neither sexual orientation nor age moderated this relationship. Loneliness, depression, and anxiety were found to significantly mediate the relationship between social integration and psychological well-being, particularly regarding the more objective dimensions of social integration. Conversely, social media use and attitudes were not found to be significant mediators, and no notable changes in communication patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic were found. These results suggest that social integration is importantly linked to psychological well-being in both lesbian and heterosexual older adult women, and that this relationship is indirectly affected by mental health status. While the limited representativeness of the study sample may restrict the generalizability of these findings, they generally strengthen support for considering social factors when addressing the mental health needs of lesbian older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)